Supporting Family Engagement in Early Childhood Education

Professional development opportunity at NHSA’s virtual conference

A sponsored message from our friends at Educare

As one of the nation’s most diverse and effective networks of high-quality early childhood schools, the Educare Learning Network innovates, evaluates and shares best practices to transform the lives of young children and their families in under-resourced communities.

We know what young children need to succeed in school and in life, our Educare Model is research-based, prepares children and helps parents develop the skills they need to champion their child’s education.

Our Educare Intensive Family Engagement Logic Model highlights that parents are their children’s first and best teachers, and recognizes the importance of practitioners addressing a child’s needs within the context of their family. Family engagement, in Educare, means partnering with families to build mutually respectful and goal-oriented relationships that support strong parent-child relationships, family well-being, and ongoing learning and development for both parents and their children.

Longtime partner of the Educare Learning Network, Iheoma U. Iruka, Ph.D. has spent much of her research career focusing on and championing the impact of family engagement and support in the field of early childhood education. We’re thrilled to announce that she will be giving a presentation on the critical importance and value of parenting and family engagement support for young children’s learning, development, and wellbeing at the upcoming virtual National Head Start Conference LIVE! on Tuesday, April 21, from 4–5 p.m. Eastern Time.

In her presentation “Family Engagement and Support: Essential Ingredient for Child Achievement, Wellbeing, and Excellence” Dr. Iruka will showcase her 4E’s of family engagement and their importance to the field and how no matter your role, you can use the 4E’s in your daily practice.

What are the 4E’s of Family Engagement?

Exploration

• Approach families without judgement so that the focus of discussions can be about the many ways that families can support their children’s learning, success, unique talents and contributions.

Expectations

• Programs shouldn’t seek to “excuse” parents and families from being engaged, but rather find ways to help parents and families meet the expectations that their involvement is critical for their children’s development and learning.

Education

• Teach parents what they need to know to advocate not only for themselves, but also for their children.

Empowerment

• Build families’ self-competence and self-sufficiency by exploring their assets and capacities, educate them on issues around advocacy and networking, and hold high expectations about their role as parents in all aspects of their child’s development.

To hear more about Dr. Iruka’s 4E’s of family engagement and what implications they have for practice, we hope you will join us at the during the virtual NHSA National Conference on April 21! Register now at go.nhsa.org/virtual.

Dr. Iruka has been connected to the Educare Learning Network for many years as team member of the National Evaluation Partner, located at FPG Child Development Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill, where Educare data is centralized and synthesized to inform our practices as a Network and shape what high-quality early childhood education looks like in action.